This project adds a third lane to northbound Interstate 81 from mile marker 234.1 to 237.7, and southbound I-81 from mile marker 237.9 to 234.2. The project is primarily in northern Augusta County near Weyers Cave but extends about a mile into southern Rockingham County. The widening provides truck climbing lanes to the right side in each direction to reduce the likelihood of trucks slowing in the primary travel lanes on the steep grades. To minimize impacts, widening is to occur primarily to the inside and within existing right-of-way.

Little to no reconstruction of the existing travel lanes is anticipated. Some shoulder widening and reconstruction will be required for temporary traffic control. The northbound and southbound bridges over Naked Creek will be widened and rehabilitated.

This project also includes improvements at the interchange of I-81 and Route 256 (Weyers Cave Road) at exit 235. Specifically, the northbound and southbound deceleration lanes (off-ramps) and northbound acceleration lane (on-ramp) will be lengthened.

In 2019 I-81 through Weyers Cave had an average daily traffic count of 56,800 vehicles.  By the design year of 2046 the estimated average daily traffic volume is 76,700 vehicles.

This project is part of the Interstate 81 Corridor Improvement Program (CIP), which aims to improve safety, increase reliability and foster economic growth along the 325-mile corridor. The Commonwealth Transportation Board approved the I-81 CIP in December 2018. The $2 billion package of targeted improvements was funded by the Virginia General Assembly and signed into law in spring 2019. More information about the program is available at Improve81.org.

Benefits
This project is among a series of corridor improvements to Interstate 81. It improves safety and traffic flow on I-81 near Weyers Cave in an area with steep grades northbound and southbound. Commercial vehicles climbing these grades will have an additional lane in order to minimize conflicts with traffic moving at higher speeds.

Project Schedule
Design Approval – Late 2022
Right of Way – Late 2023
Construction Advertisement – Late 2024

Project Costs

Preliminary Engineering: $10,799,000
Right of Way: $1,553,025
Construction: $114,857,323
Estimated Total Cost: $127,209,348

This project is funded by the I-81 Corridor Improvement Program.

Public Outreach

Design Public Hearing
Wednesday, July 27, 2022
4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Public Comment Deadline - August 6, 2022

Public Meeting Location

Blue Ridge Community College
Plecker Center for Continuing Education
One College Lane
Weyers Cave, VA 24486

Design Public Hearing Materials

Project displays: See Documents & Materials tab below
Video
Podcast

Resources

Contact Information:
Jennifer Hoover, P.E., Project Manager
(540) 332-2264
Jennifer.Hoover@VDOT.Virginia.gov

Phase: In Design

State Project Numbers
Northbound: 0081-007-017, B628, C501, D606, D607, P101, R201
Southbound: 0081-007-018, B643, C501, D608, P101, R201

Federal Project Numbers: NHPP-081-2(325), NHPP-081-2(326)

UPC: 116277, 116278

Lat/Long: 38.300278, -78.930278

Localities: Augusta and Rockingham Counties / VDOT Staunton District

Translation assistance: For translation assistance, please call the VDOT Staunton District Civil Rights Office at 540-292-3040. More information on Translation services can be acccessed here.